great effusion from a Turret hy They 'had won the Towne the streets had bin imbrude With Natiue blood but they in hast discend Releeue th' opprest the Citty gates defend 64 And yssuing with three thousand Knights compell Achilles to retrait and when his face Look't backe from Troy ward there was none so fell Vpon the Graectan party but gaue place This day Prince Diomed was seene t' excell In Armes him Troylus met in equall race They spur their Steeds that ran both swift and true Incountring both their Staues to splinters flew 65 Their Launces broake they try their burnisht blades A thousand fiery starres at euery rushing Fly from their helmes with fury each inuades His opposite their mutuall Armors frushing The big-limb'd Diomed himselfe perswades Young Troylus cannot match his strength and blushing A beardlesse Lad should hold him so long play Doubles his blowes and thinkes to end the fray 66 The Noble youth whom Cresseids loue prouokes To all atchieuements beyond mortal power Though young his lofty spirit his riuall yoakes Who thought his infant Vertues to deuoure He doubles and re-doubles warlike stroakes The battell lasts the best part of an houre But whilst vpon their helmes each champion thunders Night that deuides the hoast their fury sunders 67 This Eeuen the Greekes incampe earely the Morrow They shine in armor with the rising Sunne The Troian Princes from their Ladies borrow Rich fauours and withall to horse-backe runne A kind of feare begot twixt ioy and sorrow Liues in their eyes til the dread fight be done To see their Champions proudly arm'd they ioy Grieue to behold so huge an hoast fore Troy 68 Now are both Battailes pitcht Menon appeares First from the Argiue hoast from Troy forth stands Hector who in his burnisht Beauer weares Andromachs Gloue and now all Troy commands These two begin the battell with their Speares They broke they tosse their bright steele in their hands Hector soone hurles King Menon from his horse So passes on to proue his warlike force 69 The two hoasts ioyne ruffling confusion flyes Through all Scamander field the dying grones Are mixed with th'applausiue Conquerors cryes Troians and Greekes conquer and fall at ones Renowned Hector this day wins the pryse he sunders Males and Armors flesh and bones His al-deuiding sword was made by charme No steele so wrought but shrunke beneath his arme 70 Thus like a raging storme he rusheth still Ouer his Plume a Clowd of terror hung And where he rides he doth on all sides kill His bloud-staind Faulchion spares nor old nor yung Tyr'd with his horse his Chariot Mount he will Now vp he takes a Bow deuinely strung And shooting midst the Hoast not one steele-head Iat'd from his Bow but stroke a Graecian dead 71 Him the King Menon and king Glaucion then Huge Thesus and Archilochus defie They in their squadron lead three thousand men But Hector in his Chariot still sits hie Vntill his Brasse-shod wheeles are purpled when Their Naues are drown'd in blood of men that die Charioted Hector these foure Kings assaile But his smart Steeds spring through their armed pale 72 Menon that was too forward boue the rest Pursues great Hector in his lofty Carre A dart the Troian quiuer'd through his brest King Menon bids his last farewell to warre With multitudes the Prince is ouer-prest And yet he kils the Greekes neare and from farre Neere with his fatall sword he cleaues their harts And a farre off with his keene shafts and Darts 73 Vnto this rescue Prince Securabor One of King Priams Bastard sonnes soone came And Noble Margareton thirsting for Honor and mongst the Greekes to get a name All Priams yssue cowardice abhor Duke Menesteus enuious of their fame Against them comes now clamors fill the skie Whilst about Hectors Chariot thousands lie 74 Vnto this hostile tumor from Troy-ward Three Kings with Noble Troylus the fourth man Make their incursions King Sampitus far'd Like a fierce Lyon King Maclaon wan With anger and the King that all things dar'd Alcanus gainst whom Menesteus ran And bore him Nobly yet alas too weake Till Thesus came the Troian rankes to breake 75 Troylus Menesteus singles but his Horse Stumbled and he enforcst on foot to fight Fiue hundred Greekes beguirt him and enforce The youthfull Troian now debard from flight To be their prisoner Many a liuelesse corse Troylus first made before compeld t' alight When Hector heard but word of his disgrace He slew on all sides till he wan the place 76 But first Alccenus had addrest his Speare Against the Duke that led Prince Troylus bound The Steele point tooke him twixt his cheeke and eate And made th' Athenian Duke a dangerous wound Sampilus seconds him a Steed was neare On which they mounted Troylus from the ground Menesteus mad that he hath lost his prise Pierst through the throng and cald for more supplies 77 King Menelaus and Prothenor knowing Th' Athenians voyce presse that way with their powers But find Hyripsus and King Hapon strowing The earth with Greekes at which the Spartan lowers These foure their forces ioyne many yet growing Their swords supplant death through the Champion scowers At whom th'Olimpian Gods amazed stand To see him with such quicknesse moue his hand 78 Anthenors sonne Polydamus makes on King Rhemus backes him with three thousand more Their Speare-length through the presse he had not gon But Celidus him from his Courser bore A fairer Prince then Celidus liu'd none By Venus gift he Beauties Liuery wore Polydamus re-mounted soone addrest A second course and pierst him through the brest 79 Which Menelaus seeing soone assayles Rhemus and layes him stounded in the field And but that stowt Polydamas preuailes H 'had borne him to his Tent vpon his shield Still was not Hector Idle Hils and Dales His Chariot skoures to him the mightiest yeild For like a raging Torrent after Rayne Where ere he comes confusion fils the plaine 80 Now was he by the men that Aiax led Troopt in the Salamines Thunder about him Like Ciclopes as if his Noble head Were Vulcans Anuile yet the boldest doubt him And seeing store of Carcasse bout him spred Wish in their hearts to fight else-where without him For like a baited Lyon at a stake he cuts them off and makes the boldest qnake 81 King Theuter somewhat rougher then the rest as worthy Hector kept these Dogs at bay Finding the Prince with two much taske opprest against him with his Courser makes swife way The brazen-headed staffe glides by his brest and gainst his rib he feeles the Iauelin stay King Theuter thou hast done a Noble deed Thou art the first that mad'st great Hector bleed 82 Well was it for thee that thou staidst not long Those that growe next him for thy act must fall Like a mad Bull he fares the Greekes among and whom he hits beneath his Chariot sprall The Prince the common man the weake the strong The Bold the
is figured in his face And in his lookes the eye of Gorgons burnes The Greekes blunt sword can scarce his Helmet race So weake a foe inflamed Hector scornes Vpon his Crest his Faulchion he lets fall And cleaues the Greeke helme body armes and all 59 The emulous son of Thetis crost by chance The blacke goar'd field and came to view this blow And mad in mind against him charg'd his Lance In hope the towring Prince to ouerthrow Him Thoas seconds and doth proudly'aduance His reeking sword late crimson'd in the foe Both with remorflesse blowes the Prince offend And his bruisd Shield about his arme they bend 60 Had not his helmet beene of mettall pure With Axes they had hewed it from his head But he that made it was an Arts-man sure Else had his braines bin on his harnesse spread Nor had he long bin able to indure Such tedious battry had not Fortune led Paris Aeneas Troylus and the rest To rescue valiant Hector thus opprest 61 At their approch the Achive bands retire Whom to their Pallisadoes they pursue By this in heauen ten thousand Lampes of fire Shine through the ayre and now both Hoasts withdrew The re-assembled Greekes Hector admire And mongst themselues into sad counsell grew Since not by force of Armes by what sly traine The neuer-daunted Worthy may be slaine 62 More honoured Hector in his royall braine Reuolues on milder thoughts how bloud to saue It pitties him to see so many slaine And come to such a generall timelesse graue Then that no more red bloud may Symois staine And change the coulour of her siluer waue He by a generall challenge will deuise For thousands safeties one to Sacrifice 63 Against all Greece hee 'l flyng his hostile gage And to a single Fight their Princes dare That two bolde Champions may the combat wage And in their mutuall Fury thousands spare Meane time blacke night from th' vniuersall Stage Of Earth is cha'st and driuen Now all prepare For th' early Field and with Apollo rise To shine in Armour by his rhadiant eies 64 The Princes to the place where Hector lay Throng in theyr Armes and his command attend After they had tooke and giuen the time of day with him they to the aged King descend Before whom Hector briefly doth display his purpost challenge which they all commend For well his Father and his Brothers know Hector hath power t' incounter any foe 65 The Sunne vp the steepe Easterne hils clymes fast Th'embattaild Greekes vpon the plaines appeare To them the faire-rankt Troians march in hast Within the reach of Hectors armed speare Both Hoasts attend the charge when vnagast The Prince first wafts that all the Campemay may heare Then leaning on his Iauelin makes this boast Euen in the face of their assembled hoast 66 You curled Greekes that haue vnpeopled quite Threescore vast Kingdomes of theyr ablest men To throng our fieldes with numbers infinite All hopelesse of theyr safe returne agen Among these sixty Kings that shine so bright In burnisht Steele vpon this sanguine Fen Can you select one boulder then the rest T' encounter armed Hector Creast to Creast 67 Or if your Princes be too weake a number Can all those threescore Climats yeild one hand Amidst this world that coms our Realme to cumber That dares betweene these hoasts gainst Hector stand Or doe you all feare deaths eternall slumber As well your Kinges as those of common band That with a braue breath'd in so many eares No soule more valiant then the rest appeares 68 If any of these Princes proue so free His prodigall life against ours to ingage Know by exposing his whole thousands be Sau'd from the spoyle of warres infernall rage Oh let me then that thrifty Champion see That will spare Graecian blood with him â—…wage wage Equall contention with my liues expence I will maintaine the Troians eminence 69 A Prince shall meet that Prince as neere allide To thundering Ihoue as he that 's best degreed If in his warlike Chariot he will ride I in my Chariot will conâ—…tont his speed March me these foure white Coursers Greece hath tride These faire Andromache doth mornely feed With her white hand with bread of purest wheat And waters them with Wine still when they eat 70 Xanthus Podargus Lampus Aethon deare To Hector you my armed Coach shall draw And in this fierce exposure shall appeare Before the best Steeds that the Sun ere saw But all Greece cannot match your swift Carrere Not Diomedes Steeds that fed on râ—…w And mangled limbes that in their Mangers bleed Can equall you in courage or in speed 71 Therefore I le cease that oddes and once againe Leauing the Kings to common men I turne Among such clusters growing on this plaine In no warme brest doth so much valor burne But shall so many shewers of blood still raine On Symois banke so many widdowes mourne For their slaine Lords so many Children cry For their poore Fathers that heere slaughtred die 72 If not for Loue of honour in despaire Methinkes some one our puissance should accost For noâ—… two soules that heere assembled are Shall scape the â—…y of our Troian hoast Death and deuouring ruin shall not spare One of your infinites you are ingrost All on destructions File then let some Greeke Despairing life a death with honor seeke 73 Yeilds our besieged Towne a Nobler spirit Then sixty assembled Kingdomes can produce That none dares enterpose his hostile merit But all put off this combat with excuse Among such infinites will none inherit A name with vs Feares Greece our hand shall sluce Their Vniuersall blood That feare can slaue So many Legions with one Hectors braue 74 I beg it of you Greekes let some forth stand To try what puissancelyes in Hectors sword If I be foyl'd by his all-daring hand The Spartan Hellen shall be soone restord And all the spoyles brought from the fertile Land Of Cythara made good and he ador'd With these ennobled armes the sword and crest Of Hector Honors more then all the rest 75 If I subdue your Champion Greece in peace Shall ease our burden'd earth of this huge weight Hostility betweene our hoasts shall cease You with your men and armes your ships shall freight And from our bloud-stain'd soyle free this large prease So shall illustrate Hector reach his height When th' Vniuersall world hath vnderstood Hector gag'd his to saue his Citties blood 76 Oh let it not in after times be saide Twice thirty kingdomes could not one man finde Prince Knight or Swaine durst equally inuade A Troian Prince in Armes and height of mind Nor let succeeding time the Greekes vpbraide To heare such lofty spirits so soone declinde Behold heere stand I to abide the rage Of his arm'd hand that dares but touch our gage 77 These words thus breath'd a generall showt is giuen Through al the Trâ—…n army which aspires And strikes against the Marble floores of heauen Where fixed are
led Though Martial'd in their best and proud'st array Could not repell his swift and violent speed he by his guard his ruine hath Decreed 25 The selfe-same charge that he gainst Hector vsd Gainst Troylus he his Myrmidons perswades Behold where he with Hectors spirit infusd The warlike Thous in euen course inuades Him whom his strength of armes might haue excusd The Treian sends vnto th' Elisian shades The Athenian Duke against him spurres his horse But quite through-piercst the Greeke drops downe a corse 26 Foure Princes in as many coarses tasted Like Fate yet still the Dardan Prince sits hye No coarse no towring blow he vainly wasted In his great heart an hoast he dares defie King Diomed once more against him hasted And long'd with him a warlike course to try But horse and man were in the race ore-throwne Normaruell now the princes strength was growne 27 The elder of th' Atrides next him grew And tryes the vigour of his arme and Speare Him likewise Troylus brauely ouerthrew And forth vnshooke himselfe he past on cleare Now well-nigh breathlesse he himselfe with-drew Whom then the spleenefull Pelean watched ncare And as he lights to rest him on the ground Him the blacke Myrmidons incompasse round 28 With mercilesse keene glaues they siege the youth Whom all at once with fury they assaile In them is neither Honoured grace not ruth Nor is one Troian neere the Prince to bale Achilles with the rest his blood pursuith Thousands against one man must needs preuaile Who seeing nothing else saue death appearing Euen gainst all oddes contemnes despaire or fearing 29 But through their squadrons hewes a bloudy trackt And lops the formost that before him stands Had Deiphebus now his Brother backt Or had the place bin by Sarpedon mand Or had Epistropus whom he now lackt Vpon his party tear'd his conquering hand Had their brigat Faulchions-brandisht by his side The Myrmidons had fayl'd Troylus not dide 30 But hee 's alone rouud guirt with death and ruin And still maintaines the battel though in vaine On euery side a bloudy passage he wing To worke himselfe out through a dismall Lane Of Myrmidons Achilles still pursuing Who keepes the hindmost of his rough-hair'd traine Yet had Prince Troylus markt him where he stood And almost wrought to him through death and blood 31 But ods preuail'd he sinkes downe the mid-way Euen in his fall his sword against him darting That did both Hectors and his life betray Boasting a Noble spirit in his departing By Troylus death the Greekes obtaine the day The Myrmidons their many wounds yet smarting Cure in their Lords Tent whom the Greekes aplaud For Troylus death gainst honour wrought by fraud 32 Now the deiected Troians dare no more Enter the field the Greekes approach the gates And dare them to grim warre who still deplore Hector and Troylus in their Tragicke fates Queene Hecuba yet keepes reuenge in store Of which at length with Paris she dabates Vowing to catch his life in some flye traine That by like fraud her two bold sonnes had slaine 33 She clas to minde the great Athilles pride Withall the loue he to her Daughter beares A thing in zeale she can no longer hide Since in Polyxena like loue appeares Troyes weake deiection she makes knowne besides Disabled by a siege of many years Therefore intreats him to accept her loue And in a generall truce the Argiues moue 34 The lofty Greeke proud by so great a Queene To be sued to when he records withall How much hee s fear'd he gins to slake his spleene And the Maids beauty to remembrance call What can he more Since he hath dreaded beene And seene his ablest Foes before him fall But yeild to beauties soft inchaunting charme Knowing weake Troy dares not conspire his harme 35 The day drawes on a peace hath bin debated To which Achilles the proud Greekes perswades Some thinke it needfull others hyer rated Their honours and this Concord much vpbraides Alone Achilles longs to be instated In her faire grace the beautifulst of Maids And with the sonne of Nestor makes repaire Where Priam with his sonnes and Daughters are 36 Truce is proclaim'd the Damsell richly clad And by the Troian Ladies proudly attended Whom none that saw but admiration had As at a Goddesse from hye heauen discended The innocenr Maide was still in count'nance sad For losse of those that Tray but late defended Yet guiltlesse in her soule of any spleene Dreampt gainst the Prince by Paris or the Queene 37 Vnarm'd Achilles to the Temple goes Whom Nestors sonne attends to Pallas shrine and all the way with Gold and Iewâ—…ls strowes Prising them Earthy but his Bride Deuine and nothing of their Treacherous act he knowes When Paris from a place where he had line With arm'd Knights yssues and a keene shaft drew Which in the heele the proud Achilles slow 38 Who when he sees himselfe and friend betraid and wounded to the Death whilst he could stand Brandisht his sword and mongst them slaughters made But now he wants his Myrmidons at hand and his strong armour Paris to inuade Alacke the Temple was too strongly man'd his strength that cannot bandy gainst them ali at length must sinke and his hye courage fall 39 There lies the great Achilles in his gore and by his side the Sonne of Nestor slaine Amongst the Trotans to be feard no more His body to the Greekes is sent againe Whom they for Hectors change and long deplore his death by Treason wrought vpon the plaine For him a Monumentall Toombe they reare and for his death a ioynt reuenge they sweare 40 The siedge still lasts vpon the part of Troy Penthisilia with a thousand Maydes Vowes all their Amazenian strength to imploy and for the death of Hector Greece vpbraides Whilst in the Campe with much applausiue ioy Grim Pyrrhâ—… is receiu'd Pyrrhâ—… that trades In gore and slaughter with reuenge pursuing Euen to the death Troy for his Fathers tâ—…ine 41 No longer tâ—…e he will delay but streight Dare them to battaile by the Morrowes Sunne The Scythian Damsels long to shew their height and imitate theyr deedes before-time dunne They know they enterprise a worke of weight and long for Signall now to battaile runne The 〈◊〉 Greekes that were of Pyrrhus traine Whom th' Amazonians soone repulse againe 42 Penthisilea was not that fayre Queen Of Amazons of whom we now intreate That made a Law what Man so'ere had beene Within her Court to make a byding Seate aboue three dayes he might not there be seene Though his power mighty and his State were great For if within her Court he longer dwelt The penall Law was he should sure be gelt 43 So much she feared the supposed traines With which soft Women-kind vs men accuse That our society she quite disdaynes Nor shall our fellowship her Ladies vse To this decree she their applause constraines Because false men their weaker Sex abuse
From which her words nor warning can restrain theÌ„ She chusd this way the onely meanes to tame them 44 This striâ—…kt decree kept many from her Coast That else had flockt as Suters to the place Their Angell beauties which men couet most Must from the eyes of man receiue no grace Many too bold their deerest Iewell lost And were made Eunuches within three dayes space Else they were thought vnfit for the Queens dyet Who held that the first way to keepe them quiet 45 Some that could well haue ventur'd their best blood Were loath to hazzard what they needs must pay The Queene so much vpon this Edict stood That she had driuen her Suters quite away And still to be at rest she held it good Vowing t' obserue it to her dying day Hauing this prou'd those men that came most bold Their forfâ—…it pay none more submisse and cold 46 So that in processe few approacht their shore But such as had no meanes to hue else-where Whom their owne Countries did esteeme no more But pay theyr fine they may be welcome here And haue good place and Lands and liuings store Nothing the Court hath can be held too deere Amongst the rest that held a Soueraigne place Their liu'd a Baron of a Noble race 47 He that was from his Natâ—…e Countrey fled For some offence that questioned his life and as a refuge to secure his head He shund the deadly Axe to tast the Knife But time out-weares disgrace his course he led Among the Damsels free from femenine strife Doubtlesse the Woman that 's suspitious most Would be resolu'd to see what he had lost 48 The Noble Eunuch left a Sonne behind In his owne Countrey who being growne to yeares Grew fairely featurd of a generous mind and in his face much excellence appeares He vowes the world to trauell till he find His banisht Father whose estate he feares At length by search hee 's made to vnderstand Of his late soiourne in the Scithians Land 49 Thither he will for so his vow decrees But when he knowes an Edict too seuere Hee 's loath to pay vnto the Land such Fees Which he hopes better to bestow else-where In this distraction loe from farre he sees A nimble Fayry tripping like a Deere and as holies strowde on the grassie playne With swâ—…st speede she makes to him amaine 50 And greetes him thus Fayre Youth boldlie proceede I promise thee good Fortune on thy way Among the Scithian Dames thou shalt not bleed Onely obserue and keepe still what I say My counsell now may stand thee much in steede and saue thee that thou wouldst be loath to pay Receiue this Handkercheife this Purse this Ring The least of them a present for a King 52 These vertues they retaine when thou shouldst eate Vpon the Board this curious Napkin spred It streight shall fill with all delicious meate Foule Fish and Fruits shall to thâ—… place be led With all delicious Cates costly and neate Which likewise shall depart when thou hast fed This Ring hath hathâ—… stone whose vertue know Is to discerne a true Friend from a Foe 52 In this thou mayst perceiue both late and early Who flatters thee and who intends thee well Who hates thee deadly or who loues thee deerely The vertue of this Iewell doth excell Out of this Purse if I may iudge seuerely and in few words the worth exactly tell Valew it rightly it exceedes the rest and of the three is rated for the best 53 So oft as thou shalt in it thrust thy hand So oft thy Palme shall be repleat with Gold Spend where thou wilt trauell by Sea or Land The riches of that Purse cannot be told Vse well these guifts their vertues vnderstand Thanke my deuinest Mistresse and be bold Adde but thy will to her auspicious ayde Shee 'le sure thee that which others late haue payde 54 Incourag'd thus he pierces theyr cold Clime Where many hot Spirits had beene calm'd of late And enters the great Court at such a time When he beheld his Father sit in State They that â—…uriew the Youth now in his prime Not knowing his decree blame his hard Fate And wish he might a safer Countrey choose Not come thus far his deer'st things to loose 55 For not a Ladyes eye dwels on his face Or with iudiciall note viewes his perfection But thinkes him worthy of theyr deerest grace They prayse his looke gate stature and complection And Iudge him Issu'd of a Noble race A person worthy of a Queenes election Not one among them that his beauty saw But now at length too cruell thinke their Law 56 After some interchange of kindest greeting Betwixt the Father and the stranger Son Such as is vsuall to a suddaine meeting With extasies that Kindred cannot shon To omit their height of ioy as a thing fleeting For greatest ioyes are oft-times loohest don The Fathâ—… of his Sonnes ability Askes If 〈◊〉 brookt his 〈◊〉 losse with facility 57 For well he knowes he cannot anchor theare Or soiourne on that rude and 〈◊〉 barous Cost But his free harborage must cost him dâ—…ate Censuring his Sonne by what himselfe had lost she gentie Youth whose thoughts are free from feare Sayth he is come securely there to host and spight the Queene and Ladies with oaths deepe Sweares to his Father what he hath to keepe 58 By this th' Amazonian Pâ—… heares Of a young stranger in her Court arriu'd She sends to know his Nation Name and yeares But being told his Father there suruiu'd A reuerentman one of her chiefest Peeres She will not as the custome haue him gyu'd But takes his Fathers promise oath and hand To haue his Sonne made Free-man of her Land 59 Three dayes the limits him but they expierd As others carst he must the Razortry all thinges determin'd the fayre Queene desierd The Stranger to a banquet instantly Who at his first appearance much admierd Her state her port proportion face and eye Nor had he since his Cradle seene a Creature So rich in beauty or so rare in feature 60 Downe sat the Queene and Damsels at the board But the young Stranger stands by discontent They pray him sit He answeres not a word Three times to him the Queene of Scithia sent But still the Youth would no reply affoord The rest not minding what his silencement Leaue him vnto his humor and apply Themselues to feede and eate deliciously 61 But when he saw the Ladies freely eate and feede vpon the rude Cates of the Land At a with-drawing board he takes his seate and spreads his curious Napkin with his hand Streight you might see a thousand sorts of meate Of strangest kinds vpon the Table stand What Earth or Ayre or Sea within them breeds On these the Youth with lookes diâ—…dainefull feeds 62 The Queene amaz'd to see such change of cheare Whose beauty and variety surpast Longing to know the newes could not forbeare But rose with all her Damsels at the last To know
thoght it a fit opportunity for him to steale away his Queene And that he rauisht her out of the Temple dedicate to Cy◅herea where Paris and she as strangers one to another sacrificed together but in this I◅mitate Ouid as my approued Author That Menelaus was at home when Paris Landed in the Isle Cythere and gaue him friendly entertainment though some seeme to disproue yet Ouid in diuers of his workes affirms it WHen Menelaus from his house is gone Poore Hellen is afraid to lie alone And to alay these feares lod'g in her breast In her warme bosome she receiues her guest What madnesse was this Menelaus say Thou art abroad whilst in thy house doth stay Vnder the selfe same roofe thy Guest and Loue Mad-man vnto the Hawke thou trusts the Doue And who but such a Gull would giue to keepe Vnto the Mountaine-Wolfe full folds of Sheepe Hellen is blamelesse so is Paris too And did what thou or I my selfe would doo The fault is thine I tell thee to thy face By limiting these Louers Time and Place From thee the seeds of all thy wrongs are growne Whose Counsels haue they followed but thine owne Alacke what should they do Abroad thou art At home thou leauest thy Ghest to play thy part To lie alone the poore Queene is affraid In the next roome an Amorous stranger staid Her Armes are ope to imbrace him he fals in And Paris I acquit thee of the sin And in another place somewhat resembling this Orestes liked but not loued deerely Hermione til he had lost her clearely Sad Menelaus why dost thou lament Thy late mishap I prethee be content Thou knewest the amorous Hellen faire and sweet And yet without her didst thou saile to Creet And thou wast blithe and merry al the way But when thou saw'st she was the Troians p◅ay Then wast thou mad for her and for thy life Thou canst not now one minute want thy wife So slout Achilles when his louely Bride Briseis was dispos'd to great Atride Nor was he vainely mou'd Atrides too Offerd no more then he of force must doo I should haue done as much to set her free Yet I heauen knovves am not so Wise as he Hipsipile the Daughter to Thoas King of Lemnos whō when al the women of that Island had slain their Husbands Kinsmen she onely referu'd her Father aliue for which they after exiled her By the Mynoxan Maid is vnderstood Ariadne forsaken by Theseus The Meones are those who are now cald Troians First Dardanians of King Dardanus Coos an Isle in the Sea Icarium not farre from Rhodes now called Langor The chiefest Citty is likewise cald Coos where as some thinke Apelles left his admirable vnfinisht Picture of Venus so rarely begun that not the most exquisite Art-maister hee dying before it was finished durst enterprise to perfect it The assembly of the Greekes was in the Hauen of Athens or Aulis Gulfe a port-Towne in the Country of Boetia The names of the Graecian Princes though they seeme somwhat straunge yet are all remembred by Homer and others that writ the History of Troy which though no question diuers Translations and seuer all Languages haue somewhat corrupted yet they all meet in one Trueth that such men as are heere remembred were at this renowned siedge Legos where the Temple of Apollo stands in the Nauel of the world It is likewise cald Ortigia of the Birds Ottiges in English Quailes because those Birds to vs common were first seene in that Island Many differ about the Sacrifice which Agamemnon slew to appease the wrath of offended Diana some thinke it to haue beene a Hart but Ouid avers is to be the daughter of Iphegenia Of Castor and Pollux there are many thinges extant of their byrth we haue spoke before They vvere the Sonnes of Iupiter not of Tyndaris They vvent vvith Iason to the Conquest of the golden Fleece where Pollux slew hand to hand Amicus the Gyant-sonne of Neptune who had beefore dar'd all the Argonantes to a single Combat and after the Colchian voyage when Theseus had rauisht Helena they warred vppon Athens and hauing recouered her spared all the vanquisht Athenians and in their returne these Brothers rauisht the two Daughters of Leucippus and Arsinoe They were cald Phebe and Falaira Of Phebe Pollux begot Asineus Of Falaira Castor begot Amagon whose former Husbandes pursuing the rauishers fought against them a bloudy battaile neare to the foot of the mountaine Taigetes when they had hidde themselues within the body of an ore-growne Oake they were espide by Linceus of all mortal men the best sighted which an ancient poet thus describes Quo tempore Linceus Taygeti velox ascendit Culmina montis Lustrauitque oculis quicquid tenet insula magni Tantalidae Pelopis praeacuto lumine vidit Hos ambos intra ventrosae robora quercus Pollucem fortem domitorem Castora equorum Of their deaths we haue already discoursed they were after drowning translated into Starres to whom the Nauigators of old did ordinary Sacrifice The end of the tenth CANTO Argumentum THe Graecians Land Prothesilaus fals By Hectors sword King Diomed is sent With wise Vlisses to debate their brals And fetch the Spartan to her Husbands Tent Hellen denide the Greekes begirt Troy wals But are by Hector raisd incontinent Troylus and Diomed in Armes contend For Cressida so the first battels end ARG. 2. Our English Worthies Fame her rich Crowne With Troyes confedred Kings Lambda sets down CANTO 11. OH can we forraine Worthies Memorize And our owne Natiue Champions quite forget Whose fame swift Clangor hath through pierst the skies To whom due Honor still remaines in debt How many true victorious Peeres arise From this faire Garden midst the Ocean set How many an English Knight hath borne his head As hie as those whom Troy or Greece hath bread 2 Achilles Aiax Diomed or those Whom Homer hath extold with Golden praise Haue not done greater spoile vpon their foes Then some that haue suruiu'd euen in our dayes And had I spirit but like the least of those That writ the Graecian Acts my pen should raise Our Brittish Champious and their acts proclame Aboue the Greekes in the high Tower of Fame 3 What could Achilles more then Brittish Bren That after many dangerous battailes wun Fotrag'd France Denmarke Germany and then Sackt Rome and high Pernassus ouer-run And by the ayde of his bold Englishmen Laid siege vnto the Temple of the Sun Or what bold Graecian dare gainst Nennius stand That fought with twice-foyl'd Caesar hand to hand 4 Renowned Arthur famous in his age In his round Table and his thirteene Crownes Hie Romes Impetious Senate felt his rage and paid him homage in their purple Gownes His Came'lot Knights their hardiments ingage Through all the world to purchase their renownes Of Noble Edgar my dull Muse next sings Row'd on the Thames by eight commanded Kings
5 Bold Edmond Sir-nam'd Ironside him succeeds a brauer Spirit breath'd not vitall ayre The Bastard Williams Sonne Duke Roberts deeds aske the next place for his attempts were rare By Cort-hose many a Tyrant Panim bleeds By whom the Christians re-invested are and whilst hye Syons Towers triumphant stand He chosen Monarch o're the holy Land 6 Richard the first that Cordelyon hight and Edward Sirnam'd Long-shankes without Peere Was neuer Dardan Prince or Argiue Knight That in their ages more admired were Edvvard the third that Conquer'd France by fight and Edvvard the Blacke Prince to England deere He forrag'd France for Pedro wan all Spaine Which after Iohn a-Gaunt subdude againe 7 Henry the fift then whom the world neare bread A worthier Prince Bedford and Talbot bold Who in their forrain Regency so sped That puissant France was by their powers controld Edward the fourth though wantonly misled Wan ten set battailes The third Richard sold His name to scandall else his warlike merit Might with the rest a Worthies name inherit 8 The valiant Earle of Surrey often staid The Northerne Enemies from filching heare In the eight Henries dayes Charles Brandon made England renown'd by his victorious Speare And those whose Woorths these late times haue displaid Howard Grey Norris Sidney Essex Veare These had they liu'd in aged Priams dayes Had dim'd the Greekes and matcht the Troians prayse 9 Now to our hostile preparations we Must arme our Pen the Greekes are vnder saile There is a place from Earth Sea Heauen stands free And equally remoued from them all In the worlds Nauell fixt where Concaues be And hollow-sounding Vaults through Crannies small Where the reports and rumors of all sounds Giue shrill Reuerberat Ecchoes and rebounds 10 Heere Fame her Pallace builds by wondrous skill Seating her selfe in her most lofty Tower Yet is her house erected on a hill A thousand Loope-holes are within her Bower A thousand doores and windowes open still Transparant euery late and early hower Full of Big-bellyed Vaults and the wals such Of sounding Brasse that rings with euery tutch 11 Whose empty wombe continuall murmur yeilds And iterates againe each word it heares Within this place no toonglesse silence builds No solitary dumnesse spares the eares A whistling wind flyes round about the fields Which shakes the trembling branches but forbeares All violent gusts about this hollowed ground There are perpetuall calmes no Tempests found 12 And though no silence yet no clamors rise Onely a whispering murmur like the Seas Heard a farre off or when the troubled skies With remote Thunder mou'd soft showers appease The Courts are throng'd with multitudes of spies Light giddy people tatling what they please Who in and out through euery chamber passe Whispering sometimes what is and what neare was 13 Infinite Currors Purseuants and Posts Embassadors and such as hurry newes Heralds such men as Trafficke betweene Hosts Walke too and fro and no man Tales eschewes One speakes of Warres of Combats and rude boasts Another serious talke of Peace pursues All as they are dispos'd this man is telling Of buying Land that other speakes of selling 14 Some talkes of this mans Honors that mans shames Others of Stormes and many a boysterous flaw Some men of their successe and chance in games One what he heard another what he saw Some men of Knights aduenturers some of Dames Others how long their sutes haue hung in Law Toies with things serious passe graue things with bables Lies mixt with truths and truths discourst with Fables 15 Numberlesse rumors through the Pallace flye In euery nooke they make their free intrusion heere bashfull truth doth face the bold fac'd lye To fend and proue begets a meere confusion Whilst some th'attentiue eare with newes supply Others report Stale things and in conclusion Addes of his owne which bandied without ceasing From euery seuerall tongue receiues increasing 16 Heere you may see a dwarfe-like rumor grow Euen in an instant to a Gyants size Whether the Nature of the winds that blow Retaines the power to make the tumors rise Or whether Fame all tydings apt to know Giues to her traine such Bombast Liueries Their growth is strange whom I compare aright Vnto the Mush-roome statur'd in a night 17 Heere dwels credulity rash error feare Doubt volubility and quicke beliefe There is no voyce hath power to pierce the eare But fame of brutes and rumors Queene and chiefe Shrieks through the world From hence the Troians hear Th' Atrides rage King Menelaus griefe Their expedition and their Naual power Ready the threatned Enemy to deuower 18 Their Frontier Townes that border next the waues Are fortified three distant leagues from Troy Stands Tenedos whom with imperious braues The Argine Flect assault race and destroy The wrathfull Greeke not one poore Phrygian saues But to their ruines all their powers imploy This done by generall Counsell t is decreed Two Kings to Priam shail on Message speed 19 Into the Hall where th' aged King then sate Attended with his Captaines Sonnes and Peeres And such confedered Kings as to the Fate Of threatned Troy brought Horsemen Bowes Spears On this hie businesse to deliberate And rid their hearts from all inuasiue feares In throngs Vlisses and bold Diomed Two Princes arm'd at all points saue the head 20 Heere sat the King Pandrastus King Pandore And the King Galior that to Priams ayde Brought each of them a thousand Knights and more Foure Kings that from Tholosson waftage made Carras Amasius Nestor dreaded sore And stowt Amphimachus these Kings displaid Their warlike Ensignes in all dreadfull fights Bringing along fiue thousand valiant Knights 21 Next these seauen Kings K. Glaucus tooke his place Three thousand bold Squires he from Lycia brought His Sonne Sarpedon of the Troian race In all King Priams battailes brauely fought Next whom Eusemus sat distant a space Who with three thousand Knights Troyes honor sought Lyconians all Lyconias Realme he guided Since into seuerall parted Crownes deuided 22 Two puissant Kings to make the Iury full Came from Larissa these had in their traine Knights sistâ—…ene hundred Mystor whose tough scul The Argiue Princes bruis'd Capidus slaine In battaile too about the Spartan Trull Neuer to see hir Natiue Clyme againe On a rich bench sast by King Priams State These twelue bold Kings vpon the right hand sate 23 Vpon the left from Thahory that came King Remus who besides three thousand men Brought foure great Dukes seauen Earles of Noble fame All clad in Azure armes wel noted then The King of Trachy whom some Pylex name Was plac'st next him this royall Monarch when He entred Troy had in his Princely traine Eleuen hundred valiant Knights all after slaine 24 With him Duke Achumus the Troians ayded By whom Pessemus the Pannonian King Was seated him great Hector had perswaded Vnto these wars three thousand